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August 2026: Reflection

Proverbs 27:19: "As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart."

Reflection is the space we need to pause, evaluate, and move forward more intentionally.  By definition:

Reflection: or heat waves from a surface; 

Reflection is the bouncing back of light, sound or heat waves from a surface; an image seen in a mirror or careful thought and deep consideration about past events. (https://www.dictionary.com/browse/reflection)

Let’s look at each of these.  In physics reflection is a literal bouncing back of light, sound or heat waves from a surface. We have all experienced this. The sun is shining on a puddle. The heat bouncing back off of black pavement. The sound in a cave when you drop a rock or just talk. Reflection is a natural physics response to the environment. One that gives us pause that one action has a reaction onto something else. 

An image in a mirror. This is one of the hardest ones.  Because our own reflection shows our struggles, our growth, where we are in life. It does not lie. It can not be manipulated. It is a true reflection of our physical looks, but more importantly and deeper, our hearts. One of my most powerful tools in counseling is having someone look into a mirror and just look at themselves. So often with the pace of life, we look, but we don’t reflect.  Do we just brush our teeth, put on make up, shave, do our daily tasks without really looking? Sometimes we need to painfully, reflectively really look at ourselves. Have an honest look. The good and the bad. The joys and the struggles of life are reflected on our faces, through our eyes. Then there is the really hard part of this exercise. What do we love about that reflection in the mirror? We are so critical of not just our physical appearance, but who we are. Love on that person in the mirror. Tell him or her what is going well. What you love. Kindness and honesty is critical for growth. Reflection is on the good as well as what we need to improve on.

Deep consideration about past events. As a counselor this is my favorite. In the fast paced life we now live with all the distractions and surface level thought, rarely do we spend time in deep consideration about past events. We all have past events that haunt us, define us and shape us. Reflecting on these, understanding not just from our perspective, but also from the times we live in, the other people involved and their interpretations of those events are so important. Relationships are often ended by an event, a conversation that was misinterpreted. Healing comes when we own our part, forgive their part and move forward with a healthy understanding. This only happens when we reflect on our actions, choices, words and behavior. When the reflection causes us to challenge what we thought in the moment was right, but with understanding we know we could have made healthier choices. Reflection puts up a safe guard so we don’t keep making the same mistakes. In the Princess Bride, Westley and Buttercup were in the fireswamp. He makes the statement that they have learned how to avoid all the traps through experiences: the fire bursts always have a sound, the sand traps can be avoided by not stepping on them and he can fight the rodents of unusual size. He reflected that he can learn from adversity to change his future. We are wise if we do the same.

Devotional

Devotional: David and Nathan 2 Samuel 12

One of the best illustrations of reflection is the story of Nathan confronting David.  He uses a story to help David reflect on what he did and the sin that resulted. This reflection happens after King David was not in battle with his soldiers, but took the day off to peruse on his rooftop, taking in the local scenery.  This has always impacted me, in that if David had just gone to work that day leading his troops, being where he should have been in the first place, his sin of adultery and murder would never have happened. But he skipped work and was looking around carelessly. He was so overtaken by Bathsheba that he immediately brought her to himself and had sex with her. Then killed her husband after he showed his undying devotion and love for David. Obviously not David’s finest moment. David then goes along like he didn’t do anything wrong. Until the day Nathan comes by and tells him a story that helps him reflect. 

David is appalled by the main character in Nathan’s story. The main character has an abundance of livestock, but takes the one lamb from the man who only has one lamb. David feels the appropriate consequence for this behavior is death. When Nathan says “You are that man!” David immediately falls to his knees and realizes the sin he has committed. David needed to stop from the day to day living to reflect on his actions and his choices. He sinned, grievously: Against Bathsheba, Uriah and God. In that moment of reflection David realized the impact of his sin. This was a life changing moment of repentance. Honest reflection leads us to truth. Truth sets us free. We are all going to make decisions, choices that are sin. They gratify our sinful natures. We are all selfish by nature.  We need reflection to help be the guardrails that keep us going in the right direction. We need reflection, and people in our lives to help hold us accountable, help us reflect and lead us to repentance. We all need a Nathan (or two) in our lives.

Toolbox Tip

Reflection

So many great ways to apply reflection into a tool.  My favorite is just getting out into nature, without your technology and just be present.  Listen to nature speak to you. 

Take a journal with you.  Record what you are thinking and feeling. You can use a specific prompt or just freely journal.

Some great prompts are:

• What am I grateful for at this moment?

• What is something I would like to be different in my life in 3 months?

• Would the person I was 5 years ago, be proud of who I am right now?

• Is there anyone I have offended or hurt? Is there someone I need to make things right with?

• How can I make my home, school or work place better than the way I found it?

• What unforgiveness am I holding onto? What do I need to let go of?

• What defines my identity?

• Who can I be kind to today?

Holding onto hope, finding strength within.

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